Alice H.'s
Where to eat when you don't fancy meat
- 113Pranah Vegetarian CafeNewtownPranah is the go-to cafe in Newtown for vegetarian and vegan fare. Its counter food is excellent and very reasonably priced, and its portions are ample, while its eggs menu, only available on the weekends, is very popular. It serves Peoples Coffee.
- 220I first stumbled upon Aunty Mena’s in the company of a vegetarian friend, and though I’m an omnivore, I still can’t go past this restaurant when I’m not in a meat-eating mood. It’s fair to say the sound of "mock chicken" will inspire trepidation in most meat-eaters but give it a chance: even compared to the real deal, it’s pretty good.
- 324Nikau CafeWellington CentralNikau Cafe is best-known for its big breakfasts, which you can customise yourself: perfect for vegetarians or vegans tired of asking for "the big breakfast, but hold the bacon". The fried eggs in sage, though simple, are particularly delicious.
- 417Ekim BurgersWellington CentralEkim Burgers are well worth the trip out to Lyall Bay, as the queues on the weekend go to show. There are heaps of options for both meat lovers, vegetarian and vegans; all are enormous, and many feature special touches like onion jam, blue cheese sauce and corn fritters. Most are about $8, and so they’re excellent value; the cheapest, a classic beef burger, is a steal at $5. The caravan is parked beach-side on Lyall Bay from about 11am ‘til 8.30pm most days, but check their Facebook page for updates on stormy days.
- 54Aro CafeTe AroAro Cafe, in a sweet spot of Aro Valley, has breakfast, brunch and lunch menus and cabinet fare that’s a cut above most cafe’s. For just under $10, you can have two eggs any way with toast, but for when eggs won’t cut it, it usually has halloumi, vegetarian risotto, soup, bubble and squeak and asparagus dishes on the menu.
Alice H.'s
Best coffee with a snack
- 19Kaffee Eis CourtenayTe AroEvery Wellingtonian knows you can’t go past Kaffee Eis for a sweet treat, with the framed certificates that fill its walls testament to the consistent quality of its ice cream. But Kaffee Eis also does great coffee in a part of town better known for its boozing. It’s open late on the weekends, too – perfect if you need a caffeine hit before you hit the town.
- 27Queen Sally's Diamond DeliLyall BayQueen Sally’s Diamond Deli is a great back-up if you’re in Lyall Bay but can’t face the queue for Maranui Surf Lifesaving Club Cafe. It’s a shame it’s seen as a handy back-up to the immensely popular Maranui, because it’s a great place in its own right: great coffee, gelato, and a select range of cabinet food and delicious retail goods. It is small, though, and seating is limited.
- 324Nikau CafeWellington CentralTucked behind the Wellington City Gallery on Civic Square, Nikau is best known for its eggs-any-which-way brunch menu and popularity with professionals in need of a caffeine hit. As such, it’s not the first cafe that springs to mind when you’re in the mood for a light savoury snack, but it’s got great cabinet food, including pastries and its underrated cheese-and-herb scone. Best to get there before 12.30pm if you want to to choose from the full selection, though.
- 42La ClocheKaiwharawharaA few doors down from Spotlight and backing out onto a pet shop, La Cloche isn’t in the most scenic of locations, but it’s worth putting up with an outlook of traffic along Hutt Rd for its fantastic selection of mouth-watering French fare. Its cabinets are teeming with tarts, pastries, macarons, mousses and cheeses that are as delicious as they look, and there’s also a selection of cheese, sauces and retailed goods to take home and enjoy later.
- 59FincTe AroAcross the road from the Wellington City Council, Finc is renowned for its baked goods and brunch options. Its doughnuts, pastries, brioches and date scones are great, but if you’re in the mood for a savoury snack, you can’t go past a classic cheese scone.
Alice H.'s
Where to go for breakfast
- 112El MatadorTe AroEl Matador Cafe, Asador Grill & Bar is best known for its meat dishes, barbequed and grilled Argentine-style, but it’s also a great choice for brunch – especially if you don’t feel like competing with the throngs that gather at Floridita’s, Fidel’s or Olive before noon every Saturday and Sunday. Like any good brunch destination, El Matador serves eggs any way you want them, but be sure to add some bacon or chorizo to your order: you’re not making the most of what El Matador has to offer if you order vegetarian.
- 232OliveTe AroFor Wellingtonians, brunch is something of a weekly tradition, and even among the go-to destinations (Fidel’s, Floridita’s), Olive stands out. It’s the perfect spot for a leisurely catch up with a friend over eggs-any-which-way and coffee. You can sit in the window if you’re in the mood to people-watch, or make the most of the sunshine in the secluded courtyard outside.
- 349Maranui Surf Lifesaving Club CafeLyall BayMaranui’s a great place to go for coffee or brunch, until you get there and realise that all of Wellington had the same idea. Maranui is obscenely popular on the weekends, with the queue sometimes extending down the stairs and out the front door, and, in a city with so many great eateries (and many half-empty), this can be a test of resolve. But once you’re in, it’s always worth the wait: picturesque views, great decor, and fantastic food. And the Tradesman Tuesdays deal – a big breakfast and coffee for just $16, from 7am till 3pm – is a great reason to wake up early (or call in sick).
- 47Queen Sally's Diamond DeliLyall BayQueen Sally’s Diamond Deli is a great back-up if you’re in Lyall Bay but can’t face the queue for Maranui Surf Lifesaving Club Cafe. It’s a shame it’s seen as a handy back-up to the immensely popular Maranui, because it’s a great place in its own right: great coffee, gelato, and a select range of cabinet food and delicious retail goods. It is small, though, and seating is limited.
- 524Nikau CafeWellington CentralTucked behind the Wellington City Gallery on Civic Square, Nikau is best known for its eggs-any-which-way brunch menu and popularity with professionals in need of a caffeine hit. As such, it’s not the first cafe that springs to mind when you’re in the mood for a light savoury snack, but it’s got great cabinet food, including pastries and its underrated cheese-and-herb scone. Best to get there before 12.30pm if you want to to choose from the full selection, though.
Alice H.'s
Best restaurants in Newtown
- 17Planet Spice Indian CuisineNewtownNewtown’s full of Indian restaurants, but few are as busy, as often, as Planet Spice. With extra seating available upstairs, it’s a great choice for big groups looking to dine in and BYO, but be sure to book. (If Planet Spice is packed, Curry Heaven, a few doors down, is another popular choice.)
- 228MontereyNewtownStyled like a Californian diner, Monterey is an effortlessly cool destination for catching up with friends over a meal. The tables are covered with paper, on which patrons are encouraged to doodle; books are on offer for those dining solo, and board games for those in a group; and the music selections are consistently excellent. It’s famous in and outside of Newtown for its burgers, which go from $17 to $10 on Tuesdays (though it’s best to get in line before 6.30pm if you’ve got a big group, or are not willing to wait).
- 311BebemosNewtownOn the corner of Hall and Riddiford Sts, Bebemos is the newest restaurant in the suburb – and giving its neighbour Monterey a run for its money as the cool kid in (New)town. Its Brazilian-themed dining and drinks menu has something for everyone (quesadillas! coconut cream pancakes!) and its outdoor courtyard is perfectly positioned to soak up the sun.
- 46Mediterranean Food Warehouse Lower HuttLower Hutt CentralUnless you’re a fan of Domino’s, the Mediterranean Food Warehouse has the best pizza on offer in Newtown. The pizzas are about $16 for a regular and $21 for a large, but the two-for-one deal on Mondays is great value. With the ambiance of… well, a warehouse, it’s best to get your pizzas to take away.
- 54The BeijingNewtownThe uninspired decor of The Beijing belies a Newtown institution since 1996. The restaurant serves Northern Chinese food, and is best known for its Peking duck fare. If duck isn’t to your taste, it’s also known for its pork in Beijing sauce. The Beijing can cater to big groups and is often packed, so it pays to book on popular nights.
Alice H.'s
Cafes in Newtown
- 114Baobab CafeNewtownWith its expansive outdoor area, Baobab is a great place to enjoy a coffee outside on a sunny day. Though its selection of counter food is not as expansive as Pranah’s, it too presents a lot of options for vegans and vegetarians. It often holds art exhibitions and live music, too.
- 214The home of Peoples Coffee in Newtown is the perfect spot for a relaxed coffee, with inside and outside seating, a wide range of paraphernalia for brewing at home, and perhaps the best carrot cake this side of the Mt Vic tunnel. In summer, it’s also the home of the excellent Cold Flat White. A tip – aside from that day’s Dominion Post, there’s not much in the way of reading material, so bookworms are recommended to bring their own.
- 313Pranah Vegetarian CafeNewtownPranah is the go-to cafe in Newtown for vegetarian and vegan fare. Its counter food is excellent and very reasonably priced, and its portions are ample, while its eggs menu, only available on the weekends, is very popular. It serves Peoples Coffee.
- 428MontereyNewtownThough it’s more popular as a diner, Monterey stands out as a great cafe, even in a suburb full of great cafes. It’s known for its bottomless coffee, superior hot chocolate and Americana-style sweet pie – and the paper and pens, bookshelves, boardgames and fantastic music choices encourage one to linger.
Alice H.'s
Where to eat when you're a broke gourmet
- 132Chow ToryTe AroChow offers a two-for-one menu on Mondays, making it an excellent choice for a meal out to mark the start of the week. It’s a great way to try the full range of Chow’s small plates, and the offer also extends to takeaway.
- 232Scopa Caffe CucinaTe AroPizza joints pop up all the time, but Scopa’s something of an establishment in Wellington. On Tuesday lunchtimes, margherita pizzas are on offer for $8, down from $14.
- 328MontereyNewtownMonterey is famous in and out of Newtown for its burgers, which drop from $17 to $10 on Tuesday nights – perfect for a cheap treat if you get paid every other Wednesday, as I do. (There is also sometimes a $20 burger and pilsner deals, though call ahead to check if it’s on offer.) The deal is so popular it’s worth making an effort to get there before 6.30pm, if you can, but it’s well worth the wait. There are halloumi and tofu burgers for vegetarians, too.
- 45Oriental Kingdom CafeTe AroOriental Kingdom is a great spot for a cheap, delicious Malaysian meal. The mains are enormous and mostly around the $12 to $17 mark, but if it’s the dark side of payday, the <$10 roti is a solid choice.